In a huge test of will, the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the Montreal Canadiens, 6-2, in Columbus.
The win pushed the Jackets into a tie for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with the Canadiens.
Sergei Bobrovsky got the win the Blue Jackets – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
Columbus trails the first wild card by a single point held by the Carolina Hurricanes.
Oliver Bjorkstrand struck for two goals in the win.
“We had a little bit of slow start and they came out flying more than we did,” Bjorkstrand said. “The positive thing is we found a way to bounce back. Halfway through the (first) period we started to pick it up. The second and third periods we took steps.”
The Habs had taken a 2-1 lad in the second period before the Blue Jackets replied with five straight goals.
Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves to get the win.
Brett Kulak scored for the Habs in the first and Jeff Petry made it 2-1 Canadiens before the five-goal outburst.
“No matter how bad this loss hurts, we have character players in this room, character players that care and want to do well, and as a coach you love seeing that. I’ve got a lot of young guys, but I’ve also got a lot of veterans. It’s a good mix,” Montreal head coach Claude Julien said after the loss.
David Savard, Artemi Panarin and Riley Nash scored for the Blue Jackets.
“They gave us energy,” Bobrovsky said. “We didn’t have a good start but with their work ethic, they work hard, they dragged the team into the game and gave us a chance.”
Brandon Dubinsky added an empty-net goal to seal it.
“Everyone knew we were down one goal (going into the third),” Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher said. “We had the mindset going in we needed one goal. They were able to capitalize before we were, and then we forced things.”
[WATCH: All Canadiens vs. Blue Jackets highlights]
Carey Price made 24 saves in the loss.
“They definitely came with a harder push in the second period,” Price said. “We came out hard and fast in the first, and they gave us a push back and started playing a little more physical.
“I thought we handled it fine, but again, just a little puck management stuff that worked against us tonight, and that’s what happened.”
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